CHICAGO — The Cavs own the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, which stands eighth heading into the NBA Lottery on Tuesday night. History tells us that can all change quickly based on the bounce of three ping-pong balls. Or one ping-pong ball.

The Cavs might get lucky, again. They might land another top prospect. They might score a high pick and trade it for immediate help. LeBron James can be a free agent July 1, and that hangs over everything that happens with the organization between now and then, starting with Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. The lottery happens to be right before that. It might bring good news and good vibes. It likely will bring nothing and sway nothing in terms of the future of James or the organization, but it’s fair to wonder. And hope. But mostly to wonder.

Might this be the most important lottery for the Cavs since they landed James by winning the lottery 15 years ago? It’s too early to...